and Markaida, 2007].
[15] Perhaps the most severe potential ecological impact
of a shoaling OML would be the upwelling of hypoxic
water in such areas as off Point Conception. An exceptionally
large decrease in oxygen over the 50–100 m depth
range has occurred in this area (Figure 2) along with the
largest degree of shoaling (Figure 4). These trends could
lead to cascading effects on benthic and pelagic ecosystems,
including habitat compression [Chan et al., 2008], community
reorganization, and alterations in ocean acidification.
Further warming and increased stratification could lead to
substantially larger declines in oceanic DO in the CCS and
other coastal ecosystems.